JP3707386B2 - Powder molding equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a powder molding apparatus in which a powder raw material such as ceramics or food or medicine is filled in a powder molding space formed by a die and an upper punch and a lower punch and is pressure-molded.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a powder molding apparatus of this type, conventionally, a punch unit is disposed above and below a die plate to which a die is fixed so as to face each other with the die sandwiched therebetween, and an upper linear moving mechanism is provided above the upper punch unit. There has been proposed one in which a lower linear movement mechanism is provided below the punch unit, and pressure molding is performed by driving the upper and lower punch units by each linear movement mechanism (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei. No. 5-57496).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the above-described conventional apparatus employs a structure in which linear movement mechanisms are arranged above and below the die plate. Therefore, the assembly accuracy of the upper machine frame and the lower machine frame that support the upper and lower linear movement mechanisms is adopted. In addition, there is a problem that the rigidity and accuracy of the frame and the like supporting both the machine frames need to be increased, which increases the cost and increases the size of the entire apparatus.
[0004]
In addition, when assembling the linear movement mechanism to each machine frame or when performing maintenance, there is a problem that workability is low and workability is low.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a powder molding apparatus that can prevent an increase in cost and an overall size of the apparatus, and can improve assembly and maintenance.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a powder forming space is formed by a die and a lower punch arranged so as to face each other across the die, and a driving shaft is connected to each of the upper and lower punches. In a powder molding apparatus in which pressure molding is performed by independently driving the upper and lower punches by a driving source via a shaft, the upper punch driving shaft and the lower punch driving shaft are commonly used as one. The above-mentioned drive sources are concentrated on the base.
[0007]
The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that, in claim 1, the base is disposed below the die, and the die is disposed and fixed to a frame portion integrally formed with the base.
[0008]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the base is disposed below the die, the die is disposed and fixed on a transport table disposed separately from the base, and the transport table is a powder supply stage. , And is configured to move between a powder pressure stage and a compact take-out stage.
[0009]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the upper end portion of the one drive shaft is connected to the upper mold support plate attached to the upper punch, and is attached to the lower punch. The upper end of the other drive shaft is connected to the lower mold support plate, and the upper mold support plate is lowered via the one drive shaft by the above drive sources, and the lower drive shaft is lowered via the other drive shaft. It is characterized by performing pressure molding by raising the mold support plate.
[0010]
A fifth aspect of the present invention is the servo motor according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the drive shaft is a ball screw supported by a base, and the drive source is connected to the ball screw via a timing belt. It is characterized by being.
[0011]
[Effects of the invention]
According to the powder molding apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, each drive shaft for driving the upper and lower punches is supported by one base, and each drive source is concentrated on the base. In addition, since it is only necessary to provide a base surface for mounting each drive source on the base, it is easy to ensure the assembly accuracy of the drive unit, and the assembly work and the maintenance work can be easily performed.
[0012]
In addition, since the heavy load of the drive source and drive shaft is concentrated on the base, the rigidity of the entire apparatus can be relaxed by increasing the rigidity of the base itself, which can contribute to downsizing and cost.
[0013]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the base is disposed below the die and the frame portion on which the die is disposed and fixed is extended to the base, the die can be supported and fixed on the base having high rigidity. The rigidity at the time can be secured.
[0014]
In the invention of claim 3, the base is disposed below the die, the die is disposed and fixed to the transport table, and the transport table is moved between the stages, so that high-speed continuous production of the molded body is possible. It can respond and can improve productivity.
[0015]
In the invention of claim 4, pressure molding is performed by lowering the upper die support plate attached to the upper punch by the drive shaft and raising the lower die support plate attached to the lower punch by the drive shaft. Therefore, the height dimension of the apparatus can be reduced as compared with the case where the drive unit is disposed above and below the conventional die plate, which can contribute to further miniaturization.
[0016]
In the invention of claim 5, since the upper and lower punches are driven by the servo motor via the timing belt wound around the ball screw, the stroke accuracy of each punch can be improved and backlash is avoided. As a result, the quality and dimensional accuracy of the compact can be improved.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a powder molding apparatus according to one embodiment (first embodiment) of the inventions of claims 1, 2, 4, and 5.
[0019]
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a powder forming apparatus for forming a ceramic electronic component element by pressure forming a ceramic powder raw material. The powder molding apparatus 1 includes a mold 2 mainly filled with ceramic powder, a drive unit 3 that compresses the ceramic powder filled in the mold 2, and a fixed frame that supports the mold 2 and the drive unit 3. (Base) 4.
[0020]
The mold 2 includes a cylindrical die 5 and an upper punch unit 6 and a lower punch unit 7 which are inserted and arranged so as to face each other with the die 5 interposed therebetween. , 7 is a powder molding space 2a.
[0021]
The upper punch unit 6 is formed by inserting a pin-shaped upper second punch 6b into a cylindrical upper first punch 6a so as to be relatively movable. A pin-like lower second punch 7b is inserted into the first punch 7a so as to be relatively movable. By driving the punch units 6 and 7 independently, various molded bodies can be formed. For example, a molded body having a cylindrical shape, a columnar shape, a cross-sectional H shape, or a cross-shaped cross shape can be processed.
[0022]
An upper first mold support plate 10 is attached and fixed to the upper end surface of the upper first punch 6a, and an upper second mold support plate 11 is attached and fixed to the upper end surface of the upper second punch 6b. Yes. In addition, the first and second mold support plates 10 and 11 are arranged apart in the vertical direction so as not to interfere with each other. The lower first die support plate 12 is attached and fixed to the lower end surface of the lower first punch 7a, and the lower second die support plate 13 is attached and fixed to the lower end surface of the lower second punch 7b. The mold support plates 12 and 13 are arranged apart from each other in the vertical direction as described above.
[0023]
Upper end surfaces of cylindrical upper first drive shafts 15 and 15 are connected and fixed to both end portions of the upper first mold support plate 10, and upper first balls are placed in the upper first drive shafts 15. A screw 16 is inserted. The upper first ball screw 16 is screwed with a nut 17 attached and fixed to the lower end portion of the upper first drive shaft 15. By rotating the upper first ball screw 16, the upper first drive shaft 15 is rotated. 15 moves up and down, and accordingly, the upper first punch 6 a moves up and down via the upper first mold support plate 10.
[0024]
Further, the upper end surfaces of the cylindrical upper second drive shafts 18 and 18 are connected and fixed to both ends of the upper second mold support plate 11, and the upper second drive shafts 18 have the same manner as described above. An upper second ball screw 20 screwed into the nut 19 is inserted. By rotating the upper second ball screw 20, the upper second punch 6 b moves up and down via the upper second drive shaft 18.
[0025]
The upper end surface of the lower first drive shaft 21 is connected and fixed to both ends of the lower first mold support plate 12, and the lower first ball screw 22 is inserted into each lower first drive shaft 21. ing. The lower first ball screw 22 is screwed with a nut 23 attached and fixed to the lower end portion of the lower first drive shaft 22, and the lower first drive shaft is rotated by rotating the lower first ball screw 22. 21 moves up and down, and accordingly, the lower first punch 7 a moves up and down via the lower first mold support plate 12.
[0026]
Further, the upper end surface of the lower second drive shaft 25 is connected and fixed to the lower second mold support plate 13, and the lower second drive shaft 25 is screwed on the nut 26 in the same manner as described above. A two-ball screw 27 is inserted. By rotating the lower second ball screw 27, the lower second punch 7b moves up and down via the lower second drive shaft 25. The ball screws 16, 20, 22, 27 are arranged in parallel and perpendicular to each other, and are independently driven to rotate by a servo motor described later.
[0027]
The drive shafts 15 and 18 are supported by the fixed frame 4 together with the ball screws 16 and 20, and the remaining drive shafts 21 and 25 are supported by the fixed frame 4 via ball screws 22 and 27. The fixed frame 4 is coupled between a base portion 4a positioned below the die 5, side frame portions 4b and 4b extending vertically upward from both side ends of the base portion 4a, and upper ends of the side frame portions 4b and 4b. The upper frame portion 4c is integrally formed with a rectangular box shape.
[0028]
Upper and first drive shafts 15 and 18 are slidably supported by the upper frame portion 4c, and the die 5 is disposed and fixed to the upper frame portion 4c.
[0029]
The ball screws 16, 20, 22, and 27 are rotatably supported and fixed by bearings 30 that are arranged and fixed on the base portion 4a. Each of the ball screws 16, 20, 22, and 27 extends downward through the base portion 4 a, and driven pulleys 31, 32, 33, and 34 are attached to the respective lower ends.
[0030]
An upper first timing belt 35 is wound around each driven pulley 31 of the upper first ball screw 16, 16, and the upper first timing belt 35 is a drive pulley 36 attached to an upper first servomotor 37. It is wound around. When the upper first servomotor 37 rotates, the upper first drive shafts 15 and 15 move up and down synchronously.
[0031]
An upper second timing belt 38 is wound around each driven pulley 32 of the upper second ball screw 20, 20, and the upper second timing belt 38 is a driving pulley attached to an upper second servomotor 39. 40. When the upper second servomotor 39 rotates, the upper second drive shafts 18 and 18 move up and down synchronously.
[0032]
A lower first timing belt 41 is wound around each driven pulley 33 of the lower first ball screw 22, 22, and the lower first timing belt 41 is a driving pulley 43 attached to the lower first servomotor 42. It is wound around. When the lower first servo motor 42 rotates, the lower first drive shafts 21 move up and down synchronously.
[0033]
A lower second timing belt 44 is wound around the driven pulley 34 of the lower second ball screw 27, and the lower second timing belt 44 is wound around a driving pulley 46 attached to the lower second servomotor 45. It has been turned. When the lower second servo motor 45 rotates, the lower second drive shaft 25 moves up and down.
[0034]
The servo motors 37, 39, 42, and 45 are arranged around the base portion 4a and supported and fixed to the base portion 4a via a bracket (not shown).
[0035]
Next, the effect of this embodiment is demonstrated.
[0036]
In order to manufacture a ceramic molded body by the powder molding apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the upper punch unit 6 is waited above the die 5 and the lower surface of the die 5 is closed by the lower punch unit 7. In this state, the ceramic powder raw material is filled into the powder molding space 2a. The upper first and second punches 6a and 6b are lowered by the servo motors 37, 39, 42 and 45, and the lower first and second punches 7a and 7b are raised, whereby the ceramic raw material powder is pressurized. A ceramic molded body having a predetermined shape is formed. Thereafter, the upper first and second punches 6 a and 6 b are raised to the standby position, the lower first and second punches 7 a and 7 b are raised, and the molded body is taken out from the die 5.
[0037]
According to the present embodiment, each ball screw 16, 20, 22, 27 is concentrated on the base part 4a of the frame 4 and supported and fixed by the bearing 30, so that the base part 4a is provided with a reference surface, Each bearing 30 and each ball screw 16, 20, 22, 27 can be assembled to the reference surface, and it is easier to secure the assembly accuracy than the case where they are assembled on the upper and lower parts of the conventional device, and the assembly work and maintenance work are performed. It can be done easily.
[0038]
In addition, since the servo motors 37, 39, 42, 45 are concentrated around the base portion 4a, it is easy to ensure the accuracy of assembly with the ball screws 16, 20, 22, 27. Work and maintenance work can be easily performed.
[0039]
Further, since heavy objects such as ball screws 16, 20, 22, 27 and servo motors 37, 39, 42, 45 are concentrated on the base part 4a, the rigidity of the whole apparatus is improved by increasing the rigidity of the base part 4a itself. Can be mitigated, contributing to downsizing and cost reduction.
[0040]
Further, side frame portions 4b and 4b extending upward are formed on the base portion 4a, and an upper frame portion 4c is coupled between upper ends of both side frame portions 4b to form a rectangular box-shaped frame 4, and the upper frame portion Since the die 5 is arranged and fixed on 4c, the die 5 can be supported and fixed by the frame 4 having high rigidity, and the rigidity at the time of pressure molding can be ensured.
[0041]
In the present embodiment, the upper first and second punches 6a and 6b are lowered by the ball screws 16 and 20 via the upper first and second mold support plates 10 and 11, and the lower first and second punches 7a. , 7b is raised by the ball screws 22 and 27 through the lower first and second mold support plates 12 and 13 to perform pressure molding, so that the overall height of the apparatus is the same as that of the conventional die plate. Compared with the case where the drive unit is disposed above and below, the drive unit can be made smaller, which contributes to further miniaturization.
[0042]
In this embodiment, the upper and lower punch units 6 and 7 are driven by servo motors 37, 39, 42 and 45 via timing belts 35, 38, 41 and 44 wound around ball screws 16, 20, 22 and 27. Since each is driven independently, the density of the molded body can be made uniform, the frictional resistance during driving can be reduced, backlash can be suppressed, and the quality and dimensional accuracy of the molded body can be improved.
[0043]
2 and 3 are views for explaining a powder molding apparatus according to one embodiment (second embodiment) of the invention of claim 3. In the figure, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 denote the same or corresponding parts, and the description of the overlapping reference numerals is omitted.
[0044]
The powder molding apparatus 50 according to the present embodiment arranges the base 51 below the die 5 and concentrates the ball screws 16, 20, 22, 27 and the servo motors 37, 39, 42, 45 on the base 51. The basic configuration is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment.
[0045]
A transfer table 55 is disposed above the base 51 independently of the substrate 51, and the dice 5 is disposed on the transfer table 55. The transfer table 55 has a circular shape, and the dice 5 are inserted and fixed to the outer periphery of the transfer table 55 every 90 degrees. A lower punch unit 7 and lower first and second mold support plates 12 and 13 are disposed on each die 5 on the lower surface of the transfer table 55.
[0046]
As shown in FIG. 3, an external rotation drive mechanism (not shown) is connected to the transfer table 55, and the transfer table 55 is connected to the powder supply stage A, the powder pressure stage B, the machine by the rotation drive mechanism. The processing stage C and the molded body take-out stage D are rotated in this order (in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 3).
[0047]
Each of the stages A to D has a clamp mechanism (not shown) that clamps the lower first and second mold support plates 12 and 13 to position and fix the lower mold support plates 12 and 13 at predetermined positions of the stage, and releases the clamps during conveyance. It is arranged. The transfer table 55 holds the lower first and second mold support plates 12 and 13 during transfer to prevent dropping, and the holding is released at predetermined positions of the stages A to D to lower punch units. A holding mechanism (not shown) that allows the vertical movement of 7 is provided.
[0048]
The operation of the powder molding apparatus 50 will be described.
[0049]
When the ceramic powder raw material is supplied into the die 5 located at the powder supply stage A, the transfer table 55 rotates 90 degrees in the direction of arrow a. As a result, the die 5 and the lower punch unit 7 filled with the ceramic powder raw material are conveyed to the powder pressing stage B, where the upper and lower punch units 6 and 7 perform pressure forming. At this time, the ceramic powder raw material is supplied into the next die 5 conveyed to the powder supply stage A.
[0050]
When the press molding is completed, the transfer table 55 is rotated 90 degrees, and the press-molded compact is transported to the machining stage C, where machining such as cutting and drilling is performed as necessary. At this time, in the powder pressurization stage B, the next ceramic powder is pressed, and in the powder supply stage A, the ceramic powder is supplied to the next die 5.
[0051]
When predetermined machining is completed at the machining stage C, the transfer table 55 rotates 90 degrees, and the processed molded body is transferred to the molded body take-out stage D, where the molded body is taken out. In this way, the molded body is continuously produced by sequentially rotating the transfer table 55.
[0052]
According to the present embodiment, each ball screw 16, 20, 22, 27 is supported by one base 51 via the bearing 30, and the servo motors 37, 39, 42, 45 are concentrated on the base 51. As a result, the assemblability can be improved, the size can be reduced, and the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a powder molding apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram for explaining a powder molding apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention of claim 3;
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the operation of the transfer table of the powder molding apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
1,50 Powder molding apparatus 2 Mold 2a Powder molding space 4a, 51 Base 4c Upper frame part 5 Die 6 Upper punch unit 7 Lower punch unit 10, 11 Upper first and second mold support plates 12, 13 Lower first , Second mold support plate 16, 20, 22, 27 Ball screw (drive shaft)
35, 38, 41, 44 Timing belt 37, 39, 42, 45 Servo motor (drive source)
55 Transfer table A Powder supply stage B Powder pressurization stage D Molded body take-out stage

Claims (5)

A powder forming space is formed by the die and the upper and lower punches so as to face each other across the die, and a drive shaft is connected to each of the upper and lower punches. In a powder molding apparatus configured to perform pressure molding by independently driving a punch by a driving source, the upper punch driving shaft and the lower punch driving shaft are supported by one common base, A powder molding apparatus characterized in that the drive sources are concentrated on a base.   2. The powder molding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the base is disposed below the die, and the die is disposed and fixed to a frame portion integrally formed with the base.   In Claim 1, the said base | substrate is arrange | positioned under the die | dye, this die is arrange | positioned and fixed to the conveyance table arrange | positioned separately from the said base | substrate, and this conveyance table is a powder supply stage, a powder pressurization stage, shaping | molding A powder molding apparatus configured to move between body take-out stages.   4. The upper mold support plate attached to the upper punch is connected to the upper mold support plate attached to the upper punch, and the lower mold support plate attached to the lower punch is connected to the upper mold support plate. The upper end portion of the other drive shaft is connected, and the upper mold support plate is lowered via the one drive shaft by the respective drive sources, and the lower mold support plate is raised via the other drive shaft. A powder molding apparatus characterized by performing pressure molding.   5. The drive shaft according to claim 1, wherein the drive shaft is a ball screw supported by a base, and the drive source is a servo motor connected to the ball screw via a timing belt. Powder molding equipment.

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